Author Archives: Redskin Warriors
>Pregame: Ryerson
>
Ryerson University Rams
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Enrollment: 25,000
Conference: Ontario Athletic Conference
2007-2008 Record: 9-16-0-3
From the Official Game Notes:
THEY JUST KEEP ON WINNING
Over the past three seasons no hockey program has won more hockey games than the Miami RedHawks, who have 83 wins since 2005-06. In this time period, the RedHawks have won 71.1-percent of their games, which is also an NCAA best. During the same stretch, no other school in the NCAA has over a 68-percent winning percentage.
STILL GROWING AT 30
Miami ice hockey is 30-years old and the program continues to grow and might just be reaching its prime. The RedHawks have moved into a new building (Steve Cady Arena in the Goggin Ice Center). They are coming off a 33-win season, in which they spent 10 weeks ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team. Also, over the past three seasons, no team in NCAA Division I hockey has won more games, or has a higher winning percentage.
HOME AGAIN IN THE CCHA
Former Western Michigan captain Brent Brekke, who was the CCHA’s Best Defensive Defenseman in 1993-94, joins the RedHawk coaching staff after spending nine seasons with Cornell of the ECAC. Miami’s other assistant coach, ninth-year assistant coach Chris Bergeron, was tabbed the league’s Best Defensive Forward in 1992-93 as a member of the Miami program.
IN THE RANKINGS
Miami starts the season ranked at No. 8 for the second time in three years. Miami opened the 06-07 season ranked eighth and the 07-08 season ranked No. 4. Miami now has been ranked among the Top-8 in the country for 25-consecutive weeks, including No. 1 for 10 of those weeks. Miami comes off a record-breaking season in which it set a school high-water mark for wins with 33. Over the past three seasons, Miami has posted more wins and a better winning percentage than any other team in the country.
This game against Ryerson is a good chance to see where our RedHawks stand heading into the official beginning of the 2008-2009 season next weekend. Some storylines to follow:
1. Goaltending. How will the tandem of Knapp and Reichard adapt to the college game? Will one of these two show better than the other and “grab” the number one spot?
2. Defense. We lost a lot on the blueline. Our young freshman must step up. We have good size on the back end, but like goaltending, there is a lot of inexperience.
3. Offense. Will Seniors Brian Kaufman and Justin Mercier have another strong showing this season to replace the offense lost by graduation?
Obviously, Miami is the heavy favorite here, but more important than the final score in an exhibition game is to see how this young group gels together as today is the first “official day” of practice. Personally, I’m ECSTATIC that the season begins tonight and I’m sure many others are as well.
>On This Date In Miami Hockey History…
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October 4, 2002
With a 12-1 victory and a 13 save performance against Air Force at the Lefty McFadden Invitational, Miami goaltender David Burleigh moved past Richard Shulmistra for the all-time record at Miami with 41 wins.
>Jones Shaken Up in Arnott House Fire
>The Tennessean is reporting that Jason Arnott’s house (where Ryan Jones has been staying) caught fire early Friday morning. Jones reportedly awoke to the smell of smoke to find the Arnott’s evacuating the house. Early reports indicate that an outdoor grilling area, that was used last night, caught fire.
Here is some video, from WKRN-TV in Nashville:
http://www.wkrn.com/global/video/flash/widgets/WNVideoCanvas.swf
Thankfully, there were no injuries, just a lot of tired eyes this morning. Jones will play tonight as the Predators take on the Atlanta Thrashers.
>Cullaton Returns to CHL and Other News
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Oh captain, my captain. The Rocky Mountain Rage have announced the re-signing of captain Brent Cullaton, who played in ten games with the Miami Redskins during the 1995-1996 season.
Here is the official release from the Rage.
In other CHL news, the Professional Hockey Players Association has notified CHL officials, of an intention to strike against the CHL and it’s member clubs. Central Hockey League officials have responded to the PHPA’s notification and “further negotiations are being discussed.”
>Coach Blasi Speaks to Red & White Club
>MURedhawks.com has a nice video of Coach Blasi speaking to the Red & White Club about all things Miami Hockey. It’s very interesting and you can check it out at this link.
A few things from the video:
– We already know that Miami will play teams like New Hampshire, St. Cloud State, and North Dakota in the coming years as Rico addressed this in my interview with him in August. There are a few more specific details about next years schedule though. In 2009-2010 Miami will enter into a two year agreement with UNH, SCSU, and UND. Next season, Miami will go to New Hampshire and per the agreement, New Hampshire will come to Oxford in 2010-2011. St. Cloud State will come to Oxford next season, with the RedHawks making the trip to St. Cloud in 2010-2011. North Dakota will work the same way as New Hampshire…Miami will go to Grand Forks in 2009-2010, and the Fighting Sioux will come here in 2010-2011.
– All Miami home games, with the exception of the exhibition tomorrow night against Ryerson, that aren’t televisied nationally will be broadcast on ONN. This includes games that Miami would play at home as a part of the CCHA playoffs in March. Blasi also mentioned that some of the games on ONN MAY be picked up by NHL Network.
>Jones Feeling the Pressure?
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With the tough battle at the forward position in Predators camp, Brandon Felder over at HockeyBuzz has a post-game quote from Ryan Jones tonight on whether or not he’s feeling the “crunch” to clinch a roster spot:
“You try not to think about it too much because the more you think about it the more stress you get and the tighter you grip your stick out there. I do my best to block it out but obviously it’s always in the back of your mind.”
Some have already penciled Jonesy in on the Preds opening night lineup. I will say that I am one of those people. I’ve said all along that I expect Jones to make this team. Things will get interesting through the final days of camp though. Nashville has a few other young talents that could leapfrog Jones and claim a roster spot.
Keep your fingers crossed!
>Miami Gets No Love from INCH
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Insidecollegehockey.com has released it’s CCHA preview for the upcoming season. As usual, the Wolverines, Spartans, and Fighting Irish get a lot of praise from the INCH staffers, but our beloved RedHawks are profiled under the “Primed for a Fall” category. You can check it out by by clicking here.
BTW, INCH predicts a 5th place finish for us this season.
>Blue Jackets Skate at Goggin This Week
>As I posted earlier here, the Columbus Blue Jackets will wrap up their 2008 training camp at Cady Arena this week. We now have a time for that, thanks to the official Blue Jackets blog, Puck Rakers. The new-look Jackets will be at Cady with a 10am skate on both Tuesday, October 7, and Wednesday, October 8…this coming week. It is open to the public.
It’s open to the public as well. If anyone is attending and would like to send me a summary, or some pictures, I’d greatly appreciate it. I’m unable to attend because I have to go to class.
>CCHA Media Day
>Just a quick summary here, as I’m heading out the door.
– Justin Mercier was named to the preseason all-conference first team
– Carter Camper was named to the second team
– Miami was ranked third in the coaches poll and fourth in the media poll.
You can view the rest of the polls and all conference teams here.
Some quotes now, from Rico:
“We feel real good about our team We have a lot of seniors with a lot of experience. We feel good that the culture is very stable and our guys understand how to prepare and play and what the process is throughout the entire season and what it takes to really compete at a high level. Every team here prepares well and understands so I think our guys really get that.
“As far as our freshmen goaltenders are concerned they are young but we feel that they can play for us. But it will remain to be seen who will emerge as number one but to start off I think both are going to play.
“As far as Justin Mercier is concerned, obviously the coaches felt very strongly about picking him on the All-Conference Preseason Team. He is one of the guys who is capable of putting up some big numbers and hopefully he continues what he started a year ago.”
>Updates from Around the NHL
>Just a short update here. I’ve compiled this post of where our Miami alumni are, training camp wise after all the cuts, reassignments, and whatnot.
Los Angeles Kings:
Assigned goaltender Jeff Zatkoff to Manchester of the AHL
Montreal Canadiens:
Assigned forward Mike Glumac to Hamilton of the AHL
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins:
Assigned forward Nino Musitelli to Dayton of the ECHL
Other notes:
– Ryan Jones is still in the hunt for an NHL roster spot in Nashville
– Marty Guerin will be attending the Hartford Wolfpack AHL camp
– Nathan Davis is attending the Rockford IceHogs AHL camp
– Mitch Ganzak is in camp with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL
– Alec Martinez is still in camp with the LA Kings
– Kevyn Adams may indeed be a Chicago Blackhawk on opening night, as he was a free agent invitee. He’s had a solid camp for a veteran player.
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